Newcastle United fanzone now discovers result of legal challenge

A legal challenge was launched against the Stack Newcastle United fanzone by 100+ city centre bars and pubs.

The city centre venues concerned about the impact on their businesses.

The alliance of bars and pubs worried not just about the Stack Newcastle United fanzone on a matchday, but also the fact it is open seven days a week and taking custom away.

The challenge was prompted when earlier this year a five year extension was allowed by Newcastle City Council for the site opposite St James’ Park.

However, today it was revealed (see below) that the legal challenge from the pubs and bars has failed.

BBC News report – 9 December 2025:

An alliance of bars and pubs has lost a legal challenge against a fanzone outside Newcastle United’s St James’ Park stadium.

The Stack venue was granted a five-year extension to its planning permission by Newcastle City Council earlier this year, leading to the NE1 Hospitality Group seeking to have the decision overturned in the High Court.

Rival operators argued it was taking away trade from their businesses and alleged the decision to allow it to stay open until 2031 was “unlawful”.

But a judge has ruled in the council’s favour, saying there was “no arguable ground for judicial review which has a realistic prospect of success”.

The court found if a claim was to be made by the objectors, it should have been in response to the original decision to grant planning permission in October 2023 rather than against the extension.

The claimants have been ordered to pay the council £17,145 in legal costs.

‘Embarrassingly silent’
Stack, which is built from 56 repurposed shipping containers, can accommodate up to 2,000 people.

The NE1 Hospitality Group warned in August that jobs at venues elsewhere in the city centre were at “serious risk” because the site is a draw for people throughout the week rather than just matchdays.

A spokesperson for the group, which represents more than 100 venues, described the court decision as “frustrating”.

It said the council remained “embarrassingly silent” with regards to issues such as business rates, wage increases and “all the other pressures on us”.

In a statement given to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the local authority said: “We acknowledge the ongoing challenges faced by the hospitality industry and remain committed to supporting both established businesses and new operators in the city.”A